SARS-CoV-2 new variant BF.7: a new public threat globally, symptoms, precautions, transmission rate, and futures perspective – correspondence
Authors: Md. Mominur Rahman, Shopnil Akash, Md. Rezaul Islam
Journal: International Journal of Surgery (2023)

Dear Editor, In Wuhan, China, an extremely unknown virulent pneumonia infected a vast number of people. At the beginning of January 2020, the authorities announced that the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the culprit that caused the ailment. Then, the new strain of viral pneumonia was given the name 'Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)' by the WHO. This new coronavirus was also referred to as 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS–CoV-2) when it was classified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. As time passed, it evolved into one of the most challenging issues to contemporary society's public health, as it had already spread to all nations worldwide. The WHO, on 30 January 2020, stated that the COVID-19 epidemic is a public health crisis on a global basis. As of 24 December 2022, 228 countries and nations throughout the globe have disclosed a total of 661,343,977 patients diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 6,684,979 victims have died as a result of this pathogenic disease1. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has undergone mutations over time, resulting in the formation of genetic diversity within the community of circulation viral strain. This genetic diversity may affect the features of the virus, such as its transmission (for instance, this could proliferate more quickly) or the intensity of effects that the affected person experience, and it may cause more severe conditions2. Among them, some of the notable variants that are affecting most people as well as killing the most people are the UK variant (Alpha) (S-GSAS-B.1.1.7), South African variant (Beta) (S-GSAS-B.1.351), Indian variant (Delta) (B.1.617.2), and B.1.1.28 (Brazilian variant)3–6. Studies have shown that the new Indian variant (Delta) (B.1.617.2) is 70–80% more aggressive than the main coronavirus variants7,8. Just when people around the globe believed the worst of the Coronavirus era was behind them and they might relax from COVID restrictions, news of another deadly Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 was identified in the subcontinent of India, and China, which then renamed as BF.7. In India, seven instances have been documented so far. Intense outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported in China, spurred by this strain, according to media sources. At the beginning of October, the scientists and researchers of the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre found the first instance of this very contagious strain. The current count in India is four, with three cases found in the state of Gujarat and one in the state of Odisha. Officials from the Gujarat state health department have said that the three Omicron BF.7 cases were recorded this year and occurred between July and November9. The patient who was affected by the case that was discovered in Odisha earlier this year has now been treated. After receiving treatment in the comfort of their own homes, all three patients made a full recovery. The novel Omicron subvariant BF.7 is known to spread quickly and has a shorter incubation time than previous strains of the disease. It has been predicted that during the following 3 months, this new variant of BF.7 may infect around 60% of China's whole population, and is quickly spreading across Beijing, which is responsible for contributing to a more substantial increase in the number of infections throughout China. Additionally, Omicron subvariant BF.7 has been documented in several other territories, such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom, as well as European countries, such as Belgium, Germany, France, and Denmark10. The BF.7 may be traced back to the Omicron variation known as the BA.5. It is a highly pathogenic variety with a shorter incubation time. Additionally, it has a greater potential to produce re-infection and can even infect persons vaccinated against the disease. A recent publication was presented in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Host and Microbe, the BF.7 variation had 4.4 times more tolerance to neutralization than the original coronavirus. This indicates that the antibodies produced by the vaccine are not strong enough to fight against the virus9,11 effectively. The control of epidemics must make use of diagnostic technologies that are both rapid and accurate to identify the virus and then may choose suitable and efficient treatments. PCR and Rapid antigen tests might be performed to confirm the presence of the Omicron variant. They can identify all Omicron subvariants as COVID-19; however, further testing is necessary to separate the Omicron subvariants from one another and other COVID-19 variations. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, often known as RT-PCR, is still the most accurate way to determine whether or not a patient has Omicron. This test is the gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. The S gene has been the one that is most often impacted by Omicron mutations. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 may be recognized by looking for the S genes that code for the spike glycoprotein. The RT-PCR diagnostic kits given the green light primarily focus on the E, Rd, Rp, and N genes11,12. Besides, the laboratory diagnosis of Omicron may be broken down into two parts: the molecular diagnosis, which comes first, and the immunological diagnostic, which comes second. The two primary branches of molecular diagnostics are real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing13. To make an immunological diagnosis, it is necessary to search for antigens and antibodies. Through molecular tests, viral RNA may be amplified, making it possible to diagnose viral infections. These tests are sometimes referred to as 'nucleic acid amplification testing,' another phrase that describes them. The first thing that must be done is to get a sample from a possibly infected person's mouth or nose because that is where the virus may be hiding out. If the sample contains SARS-CoV-2, a molecular diagnostic approach can detect millions of copies of viral genomic material. Collecting the secretions of the nasopharyngeal surfaces, which are the most likely to transmit the virus, is necessary to carry out molecular testing. Most of the COVID-19 assays that are now available or in development employ nasopharyngeal or oral material to simplify testing. The presence of viral RNA may indicate whether or not a person is infected14. The symptoms of this subvariant BF.7 are similar to those caused by the other Omicron subvariants. An infectious person may experience indications that include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition to this, other symptoms may include a runny or stuffy nose, a sore throat, exhaustion, and phlegm15. People with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of developing severe conditions when exposed to this subvariant. To prevent infection by this subvariant, keeping a safe distance from other people is crucial. Maintain a distance of 6 ft or more from other persons in public settings, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommends. Keeping a distance from someone who is whooping or sneezing can assist in avoiding obtaining their germs. Always remember to put on a mask before leaving home. By doing so, one will prevent the spread of infections. The mask not only defends against the coronavirus but also against other ailments such as the flu, cold, and cough. After using the mask even once, people should get rid of it. Use a mask of high quality as well. Besides, all should be taking the booster dosage of Covid right now. Since the Coronavirus infection cannot be cured, the only way to protect oneself from the disease's severe conditions at this time is by vaccination15. Ethical approval Not applicable. Sources of funding None. Author contribution M.M.R., S.A., and M.R.I.: conceptualization and writing – original draft preparation; M.M.R.: writing, editing, and supervision. All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript prior to submission. Conflicts of interest disclosure The authors declare no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. Research registration unique identifying number (UIN) None Guarantor M.M. Rahman (corresponding author), take full responsibility for the work and/or the conduct of the study, had access to the data and controlled the decision to publish. Data availability All data are available within the manuscript.